Communicable Disease Policy

Franciscan University of Steubenville established the Communicable Disease Policy to promote the health and safety of its students, employees, and guests.

Decisions and actions to control communicable diseases on campus will be based upon sound medical advice and in accordance with rules and regulations of the Ohio Department of Health.

Communicable disease is defined as an illness due to an infectious agent, which is transmitted directly or indirectly to a person from an infected person or animal through the agency of an intermediate animal, host, or vector, or through the inanimate environment. Communicable diseases include but are not limited to: chickenpox, infectious mononucleosis, influenza (New Type A Virus), measles, meningitis, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and hepatitis.

Students who are infected with a communicable disease should seek medical advice and are expected to act in a manner that protects themselves and others from unreasonable risk. Students with a serious communicable disease are strongly encouraged to report this fact to the Wellness Center, to a residence director, or to the Office of Student Life.

The director of the Wellness Center, after consulting with the local Board of Health and other appropriate medical personnel, will make a recommendation to the vice president of Student Life as to whether or not a specific instance of a communicable disease is a threat to the overall health and/or safety of the University community. If a communicable disease is determined to be a threat, then the director of the Wellness Center will distribute a campus-wide communication to all students, staff, and faculty that includes information on the communicable disease and an appropriate course of action.

The director of the Wellness Center, after consulting with other appropriate medical personnel, will make a recommendation to the vice president for Student Life regarding whether a student with a communicable disease can continue to attend class, live on campus, and/or participate in campus activities. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis.